1936 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

← 1934 November 3, 1936 (1936-11-03) 1938 →
Turnout	42.88% (total pop.)
Nominee Charles F. Hurley John W. Haigis Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 867,743 839,740 Percentage 47.62% 46.08%
County results Hurley:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Haigis:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Governor before election James Michael Curley Democratic Elected Governor Charles F. Hurley Democratic

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v t e

The 1936 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1936.

Democratic Governor James Michael Curley chose to run for United States Senate rather than seek a second term in office. Incumbent Democratic Treasurer Charles F. Hurley was elected Governor over former Republican State Treasurer John W. Haigis.

Democratic primary

Governor

Candidates

• Charles F. Hurley, Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts
• William McMasters, publicity agent and whistleblower in the Charles Ponzi case^[1]

Declined

• James Michael Curley, incumbent Governor (to run for U.S. Senate)

Results

Following his loss in the Democratic primary, McMasters accepted the nomination of the Union Party.

Lt. Governor

Candidates

• Thomas F. Galvin, Lawrence City Alderman and Commissioner of Public Safety
• Francis E. Kelly, former member of the Boston City Council and candidate for Lt. Governor in 1932 and 1934
• Philip J. Philbin, special counsel for the United States Senate Committee on Education and Labor and ally of Senator David I. Walsh

Results

Republican primary

Governor

Candidates

• John W. Haigis, former Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts

Results

Haigis was unopposed for the Republican nomination.

Lt. Governor

Candidates

• Leverett Saltonstall, Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives

Results

Speaker Saltonstall was unopposed for the Republican nomination.

General election

Candidates

• John W. Haigis, former Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts (Republican)
• Horace I. Hillis, candidate for Lt. Governor in 1934 (Socialist Labor)
• Otis Archer Hood (Communist)
• Charles F. Hurley, Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts (Democratic)
• Alfred Baker Lewis, attorney, civil rights activist, and perennial candidate (Socialist)
• William McMasters, publicity agent and whistleblower in the Charles Ponzi case^[1] (Union)
• Fred G. Bushold (Union-Coughlin-Townsend)

Results

1936 Massachusetts gubernatorial election^[6][7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Charles F. Hurley	867,743	47.62%	2.03
	Republican	John W. Haigis	839,740	46.08%	3.78
	Union	William McMasters	68,467	3.76%	3.76
	Townsend	Fred G. Bushold	23,605	1.30%	N/A
	Socialist	Alfred B. Lewis	9,483	0.52%	0.31
	Communist	Otis Archer Hood	6,026	0.28%	0.05
	Socialist Labor	Horace I. Hillis	3,769	0.21%	0.18
	Prohibition	Alfred H. Evans	3,424	0.19%	0.01
	Write-in	All others	0	0.00%
	Democratic hold		Swing